7-Minute Solution: Green Up Your Doorway

Add flower power to the front of your home with these tips from Karen Fausch, owner of the Metropolitan Gardener in New York .

1. Pick the right pot. Get a big one, at least 20 to 30 ­inches in both diameter and height, with a drainage hole. Your pot should match the style of your house—if you have a modern home, don’t buy a rococo planter. Stay away from metal; it gets too hot in the summer and can scorch roots. Best bets: fiberglass, clay, or stone.

2. Protect against clogs. Soil can seep into and block the drainage hole; keep it out by lining the bottom of the pot with landscape fabric (found at hardware stores), topping with a three-inch layer of either Styrofoam ­peanuts or ­gravel, and covering with another piece of fabric.

3. Make sure your soil measures up. If you go organic, mix in two to four quarts of compost. Fill the container, leaving three to four inches of space at the top; after planting, add two more inches of soil.

4. Arrange with care. Choose plants suited to the amount of sunlight the pot will get. Place a tall one (like an ­evergreen) in the ­center, then surround with up to three kinds of flowering varieties that vary in height. For a subtle look, pick ­blossoms of a similar hue. Add trailing ­flowers around the edge so they will ­cascade over the side. Water as needed.